Whistle While You Work (Solo)

[Arcadius]

24th day of Summer, 512 It was a normal day at work, when a cloaked figure walked up to the stand. It removed it's hood revealing his mother's well known face "Come with me. Leave this place. Abandon this tradition." Arcadius shook his head while shouting "No! Never! Leave me alone!" His mother approached him swiflty with an angry look on her face. Black mist shrouded the two making her disappear from his vision. He looked for Ren then saw her in front of his feet. She was belly side up on the cobbled ground. He quickly bent over to pick her up with trembling hands; a tear rolled down his cheek meeting with his jaw bone then hitting the ground. The bird jumped up, screeching, then attacked his face. He had no choice but to put an end to her and grabbed one of his leatherworking tools then ended it quickly. He spotted a magpie that had beady red eyes with no pupils. It turned his head and looked directly at him flaring it's wings out defensively. The black mist began to attack him, swallowing him into complete darkness. He grabbed for something, anything until he felt as if he was suffocating. Soon he began to get sucked into a dark hole. Stripping all of his clothing as a last resort, he shifted into his true animal form leaping out of the hole. He ran quickly but a band of hunters soon found him, shooting at him with their bows. A fatal blow punctured his lung, dropping him instantly. He began to suffocate as the hunters closed in to collect their kill. They pulled out their knives- "AHh!" He woke up gasping for breath, his heart rapidly beating as if it was about to burst. He rubbed his face with his hands then held his upper half up in his bed with his elbows. He shook his head then examined his surroundings making sure the nightmare wasn't real. He touched the covers, then the bed's head board making sure it was real. Sitting up, then throwing his legs to the side of the bed, he whistled at Ren making sure she was still there. Popping her head up warily, she whistled the tune back. He ran a hand through his hair then sighed. He quickly walked over to the basin making sure his face was still in one piece, touching it repeatedly. Quickly regaining his sanity back, Arcadius picked up his leatherworking toolbelt then laid it out on his messy bed. Scrambling over to his dresser, he quickly put on a cotton shirt, closed that drawer, then opened another to receive his jerkin. He buckled it up like he had always done since he got it, then got his pants. The soft wool rubbed against his leg as he swiftly put the piece of clothing on. He grabbed his boots then strapped them on efficiently to keep his body heat in. He held out his hand which let Ren hitch a ride on his arm. He sat her on the leather perch that hung near the hearth so she could heat up a bit. She began chirping when she was too hot, so she hopped on the wooden floor then pulled herself up onto the bed waiting for Arcadius to pick her up. He put the toolbelt on around his waist then held out two fingers for her to step up on. With two steps and a small hop, Ren was on his finger. He put her on his shoulder then smiled. "Ready for another long day of work?" She chirped a sharp and subtle sound whih he took as a yes. He walked out the door, into the cold, with the words playing back through his head Come with me... he shivered and not from the cold either. An elderly man approached him "You make 'em bootstraps? And you put 'dem fancy letters on 'em?" With a nod Arcadius explained his prices "I do make bootstraps, sir, with the embossed words and letters, yes. The price depends on the type of leather but that can be deducted if you bring me the hide yourself." With this the elderly man scratched his head "How long it take to make two of 'em bootstraps, young 'en?" Arcadius ran a hand through his hair. He didn't like when people used bad grammar but money was money "Up to a week depending on the size, animal, letters, or any waxing you want." The man put both of his wrinkled hands on the table "Aight then, may I getcha name, son?" Arcadius held out a hand for the man to shake "Arcadius." which in return the man shook it. "Aight then, I take a pair of 'dem bootstraps and I want 'FJ' embossed in the leather. I want rabbit hide." Arcadius was listening precisely to take note of what he wanted. "I'll have it done by the end of the week." then began to work on the leather with a nod. The man put on a hat then walked off.

[Arcadius]

He gathered his bow "Ready to go hunting, Ren?" He took the toolbelt off then opened his half cottage's door. Greeted with a burst of warm air from the hearth, he walked to the dresser, putting the tools in a safe drawer. He then walked back outside, pulling his cold table in. He never left it out when he went hunting. Some beggar might think it had been abandoned and then try to sell it. He pulled the abandoned barrel he had been using as a seat over to the wall of the left building then looked up at the fabric. This fabric was hooked to the two cottage/apartments like his, except they protruded a bit far out so it looked like his had been pushed in by a giant's thumb. He had hooked the cheap fabric to the walls of the buildings so it formed somewhat of an awning. Jumping up, he unhooked the fabric from the left wall. The fabric slowly fell against the other side. Doing the same for the right wall, the fabric almost hit the ground until he caught it. He smiled at Ren on his shoulder all the while rolling up the fabric. Opening the door, he tossed it inside on top of the table where it slid to a halt. He smirked "And that's how you do it." He took a bow from the twenty leaving nineteen on the dresser. He didn't have a quiver, but he hoped to craft one someday yet he didn't know how. He walked out of the cottage, shutting the door tightly with bow and arrow in hand. His boots made a sound sorta like horse hooves would on the cobbled snow covered streets. Passing many citizens that were wandering the streets, he looked as if he were outta place. A young girl was looking at him and when he looked at her she seemed as though she was trying to find something in his eyes. He quickly looked away then whispered to Ren "We might have to run." She jumped up then began hovering in the air then sat on his shoulder once more. "I forgot to clip your wings. You best not try anything, Ren." his face was critical looking at the bird but then softened when she rubbed her head against his cheek. After all, she had been trained to come back when called and to stay put when said. She hovered once more then flew off about three yards ahead of him. He whistled for her to come back immediately which sounded like three short low pitched whistles then a higher pitched and semi-longer one. The bird dodged an elderly man then returned to his extended finger. She pulled herself up with her beak and rested back into her spot on his broad shoulder. "What did I say, Ren?" The mockingbird chortled then puffed her chest up, Arcadius couldn't help but slightly chuckle. As they neared the forest inside the city Arcadius entered stealth mode with Ren becoming silent. She knew the rules and what was happening from previous hunts he'd been on. His feet made a small crunch on the snow underneath his weight. He looked at Ren then silently whistled a soft tune which she repeated almost instantaneously, but was much more louder. His footsteps couldn't be heard and with Ren whistling the birds in the forest wouldn't be so scared to sing as well hinting to prey that everything was safe and sound. His plan worked miraculously and soon almost all of the birds were singing as he quietly walked through the snow covered forest. He looked at the snow to see tiny tracks in the snow. He looked at them unfamiliar with tracking. He just trenched through the forest until he found prey and when hunting deer he could easily predict their paths being a deer himself; but that usually took hours. Maybe if he followed these little prints then that could lead him to the prey. Arcadius had never tried it but maybe today would be the first. As a matter of fact, he didn't even know if following the tracks was how you did it properly. Examining the pawprints he determined that it was a rabbit only because of how many times he had killed them and had to work with their pelts. He began to follow the tracks that winded around a few bushes and brush. He got his bow ready and placed the arrow in the appropriate place then slightly pulled back. The hare jumped out of it's hiding place then zigzagged through the snow. Arcadius pulled the arrow as far back as it would go then when the rabbit was running in a straight line away from them he let go sending the arrow zipping through the cold air dropping the rabbit instantly. He cautiously walked over to the rabbit making sure it was dead. It was fat and hardly had any meat on it so it wouldn't do very well for food but he'd bring it anyway. He grabbed the hare's dead corpse by the hind feet then held it up. "I'll clean him when I get home. As for you, Ren... go ahead and find yourself some berries." He winked at her as she flew off through the cold air. He stood in his place for about five minutes before Ren returned with a frosted Elderberries. Ones that deer and birds alike could eat but could give humans a nasty case of nausea and other unpleasant things. He didn't want to risk it though. Ren dropped the berry in his outstretched hand "Where did you find these, Ren?" The bird flew off to get more so he followed her where a frosted plant was located. She was picking off the berries and putting them in his hand until she had quite a good amount. "I guess I'll pick off some of this bark to eat." He walked over to a pine tree then knocked the frost off of the bark saying "This would be so much easier if I was in deer form." He used his rough human hands to strip the tree clear of a good sized portion of it's bark. "Let's head home. Race ya!" Arcadius went into an all out full sprint feeling as though he was in his true deer form. Ren was close behind him catching up with ease. "If only I was a deer, Ren!" he said as the bird passed him. He reached the cobbled streets once more, running out from the cover of the trees. Ren flew back and perched on his shoulder. "I've got a rabbit, of coarse you beat me." he said as they walked home.

[Arcadius]

They passed the elderly man who had ordered the bootstraps and Arcadius smiled as he walked over "How ye' comin' along on 'dem bootstraps?" This is where Arcadius liked to appear good and dedicated to his work greatly, since he could get a good reputation and build on his clientele "Just went and killed the rabbit for the job!" he said proudly while holding up the dead critter. The elderly man fixed his hat "My sincere apologies Mr.Arcadius, but things have came up and I simply cannot afford those bootstraps for my granddaughter. I'm sorry you had to go through the trouble of hunting the rabbit but I hadn't realized how much of an offset we were in. If I'd had known, I would've never ordered them!" Arcadius was infuriated at first but then he put himself in the elderly man's shoes. He respected the elderly man because of his age and his hope to try and do something nice for his granddaughter. "It's alright, sir. I completely understand. I'm quite in a mud hole myself. Me and my bird are having to eat the food we hunt." He held out the berries and bark to prove his point "It's alright though, sir. Really it is." Arcadius patted him on the back after the man smiled and nodded him off. Arcadius looked at Ren then looked back ahead "It's alright. I can use the pelt for you a new nest." This made the bird chirp softly in his ear at a pitch only his sensitive deer ears could hear. He strolled down the streets passing an archery tent that made him do a u-turn and stroll over. "Nice bird you got there, sir!" called the tentworker. "Yeah, she's quite nice." he briefly smiled "Do you have any quivers?" The man looked at him as if he suggested jumping off a roof "Why of coarse we do! What kind of archery tent would we be if we didn't?" the man added a hearty laugh at the end. "Yeah, I guess so." was all that Arcadius replied with a hard swallow. The man cautiously put the quivers out on the table saying "These are our quivers. The cheapest being twenty gold mizas." This made Arcadius nearly choke. He had two gold mizas and that was it! He needed those for food and necessities! "You don't mind if I sketch this one, do you?" The man looked at him very awkwardly "Nah go ahead." Arcadius took out his eating knife from his pocket then pulled out a few pieces of the bark he had stripped since he didn't have any paper. He turned and flipped the quiver sketching every detail into the bark so when he got home he could put it together like a puzzle piece. It was sorta like skinning an animal except jabbing it more times but lighter. He examined the quiver inside and out. He hoped to replicate it with his leatherworking skills but it'd probably turn out a lot less crappy. Especially since he had no experience in the art of making armor and related items. He hoped this would be his first. He hadn't studied the art and wasn't afraid of admitting it. "Uh, young lad, what do you think you're doing?" Arcadius had to come up with something quick. If he wanted to successfully make this thing he needed more details which would only take him a few more seconds. Otherwise, if he told him the truth the man would more than likely snatch up the quiver and take his woodchips also. He looked up at the man with raised eyebrows "My sister likes to draw things. She's practically drawn everything I own and she's drawn everything she owns so I'm trying to get things for her to draw. I figured this might be a pretty cool item for her to draw. She's exceptionally talented." The man looked at him questioningly "Really now? What'd her name be, lad?" Arcadius looked at him thoughtfully being sure to answer this question quickly before any more suspicion arose "Her name is Ren. Ren is my pride and joy and has been. Ever since my mother died I needed someone to help me and Ren has been there." It was a lie but more like a half lie. He had no sister, but Ren was his pride and joy and Ren had been there. Arcadius knew the bird was listening but was somewhat unsure if she understood. With that said, the man gave him a nod then sat down on a barrel much like his own "Sorry to here that, lad." Arcadius nodded then shifted his eyes to the man "It's fine. Just been a bit hard. That's all." His eyes went back to the woodchips that now had almost every detail. It was all playing out his mind. "Thank you for letting me see your fine quiver. My sister will love it." With this he put the wood chips in his pants pocket. "No problem, lad. Be a good brother, now." the man winked at him which received a nod from Arcadius in return. He departed from the stand and began walking towards his home. When he was out of earshot of the stand he looked Ren "What I said was true. You are my pride and joy, you are practically my sister, and you've been there for me this entire time." The bird rubbed her head against his cheek. He guessed she did understand him or the sincere tone in his voice. After about five minutes of walking they arrived at the familiar place they called home. "I'll have to make your nest some other time. I really need this, but I seriously cannot afford it." He opened the door then walked in, sitting Ren on her leather perch, which she then hopped over to the nest part and quickly snuggled into the leather nest.

[Arcadius]

Arcadius in the meantime, walked outside with the rabbit and his leatherworking toolkit's biggest knife. I should've gutted this in the woods. He sat the rabbit on the ground then walked back inside his home grabbing the table. With one swift motion, he shoved the table out the door then set it in it's correct spot. He didn't really are for the fabric awning right now. The table, however, was also his eating place so he didn't want to get blood all over it. Rolling up his shirt and cloak sleeves, he grabbed the hare from the ground mumbling "Should've gutted it in the woods." He pierced the underbelly then slid the knife all the way down to the pelvic bone. The guts fell onto the ground which he planned on giving to a hungry family that he passed along the way to the forest. And if not, he'd put them in the forest for a wolf or raptor to finish. He pulled the skin off the rabbit, cutting the hind legs completely off so it would come off easier. He was used to the gore and the smell. He had done it plenty of times to assure himself he wasn't going to sick. Adding on to that, Arcadius had a strong stomach.When the skin was pulled to the neck, he used his knife then placed it at the top of the neck. He put one hand on the handle and one hand on spine of the knife then pushed down taking the rabbit's head clean off. He then cut the front legs off He took the bloody skin and sat it behind the table on the ground. Opening the door with his elbows, he walked inside over to his water basin and washed the blood off his hands. He walked back outside and grabbed the skin with one hand, opening the door with the other. He walked over to the wash basin and rinsed the skin off then sat it in front of the hearth to dry. Ren stirred in her leather nest but then went back to sleep. He had unfinished matters to attend to. The cold air hit his forearms causing his hair to stand on end. He collected the animal guts then hid them under his cloak, not wanting anyone to think he was exceptionally strange. After a few minutes he came to the familiar frosted forest he gathered his pelts and skins from; and occasionally his and Ren's food. He went deep into it, taking him about ten minutes to reach the center. This is where he pulled out the guts and dumped them on the ground for any wandering fox to come by and eat. Easy kill and easy food. He could sense a few eyes on him and looked around to see a small tabby cat with three kittens at her side. Arcadius nodded at the cat then walked back in the direction he came from, following his footprints. He looked back as the cat and kitten began to work on the meat. He looked at his hands then tucked them away inside his cloak. He swiftly walked out of the woods smiling at a little girl who looked at him, which he then waved. Her mother looked at him with a smile which he then smiled back at her.

[Arcadius]

Arcadius continued walking back to his home. After a few minutes the Kelvic arrived once more at the familiar place he called home. He opened the door then entered swiftly all in one quick motion. He shut the door quickly so Ren couldn't fly out if she was freaked out about him not being there. Been there, done that. The bird raised her head then jumped out of her nest, taking flight to rest upon his shoulder. This made him smile, giving him a warm feeling inside. He raised his finger up then petted her head "Did you miss me?" He walked over to the pelt then bent down to see if it was dry, causing Ren to jump off his shoulder then return to her leather perch. His hand rubbed against the pelt "Dry. Good because I can work it immediately." He snatched the pelt up then walked outside, scraping the extra fat off the hide. He then left the pelt on the ground, then grabbed a neighboring stick. Arcadius broke it in half on his knee, then walked back inside. Using the two sticks, he caught them on fire in the hearth. He held them both in one hand as he opened the door then hit the cold air once more. The fire on the sticks provided little warmth. He sat the sticks on the ground, letting them burn and turn to ash. When there was nothing left of the sticks he blew out the small flame. Quick with his hands, he scooped up the hot ash then spread them on the hide which would cause the hair on the hide to fall off when mixed with the appropriate amount of water. He looked around then scooped up a handful of snow. With the help of the warmth from his hands and still hot ash the snow melted fairly quickly. He mixed this with the ash to form a paste like substance he called 'Ashpull'. Of coarse this wasn't the correct term but he couldn't recall the proper name and the name fit. He opened the door then carefully put the hide on the table, taking care not to get any paste on the hide. It would take all night for the paste to get done with it's job. He sighed then whistled for Ren which resulted in her perching on his footboard. He removed his cloak, then his jerkin, placing them on top of his dresser. He quietly and swiftly sat on the bed then with one quick motion, he was laying down with his arms behind his head with a sigh. "The hearth feels awfully nice." Ren hopped over onto his chest then laid down quietly. Arcadius pulled the berries out of his pocket then sat three in front of Ren who quickly stood up and ate them while he pulled the unetched bark out of his pocket. "Eat up!" He had done this many times yet the pine bark never tasted as good as if he was in deer form.

[Arcadius]

25th Day of Summer, 512AV The black smoke began to swallow him up once more and into the falling hole he fell. Doing as repeated he stripped his clothes, left his leatherworking tools, then shifted which required a ton of energy. The leap was large but worked in the end. The smoke surrounded him once more. This time he looked at his hooves for Ren but she wasn't there. His sensitive ears went haywire when a high pitched screech broke the air. He looked up but the black smoke prevented him from seeing. His mother broke through the smoke except her eyes were glowing red. The screech caused his ears to falter once more but this time a strong wind with sudden gusts caused his mother to shriek. The black smoke was clearing out allowing his vision to see more and more of his surroundings "YOU! his "mother" pointed at him with a critical look on her face "You caused this! You shall pay! You shall die!". Arcadius' face grew full of worry and despair. She pulled out a bow with a loaded arrow then pulled back. The black smoke completely surrounded them but was clear in the center. He could easily see the cobbled stone road now. The arrow was sent flying but he turned with the arrow hitting him in the hind quarter. The screech sounded again and this time he found out what it was. A shadow the size of a giant bird was projected onto the ground. A blizzard soon formed clouding his vision further. He looked up to see Ren who was now a giant sized bird that could pick about five of him up with one foot. She screeched once more then descended from the air then landed behind his mother making the ground shake. He backed up as far as he could go without falling into the hole, but winced with every step due to the arrow. Ren screeched another ear piercing sound then bent over his mother then eyed the arrow in his flank. He watched her with wide eyes, then she did something he never expected. When his mother seemed like the bird's ally, he was proven wrong when the bird turned her into a dinner serving. He watched as his mother was gobbled up then eaten whole. "Gah!" Arcadius woke up then looked to see Ren on his stomach looking at him in a half frustrated half caring way. "It was you and my mother and you ate my mother and-. Ah who am I kidding?" Two night in a row, black smoke and his mother had plagued his dreams. "An omen of some sort perhaps? Or just a coincidence? How I wish I could sleep in late." He had fallen asleep in last night's clothes which he almost never did. He grabbed his cloak then ran to the table sending Ren into a small forced flight as he swiftly put his cloak on for extra warmth. He gently grabbed the hide then ran outside, shutting the door behind him. He rubbed his hand over the fur that was now semi-hardened then mumbled to himself "Needs working as soon as possible." The paste had done it's job and a gentle breeze sent some patches flying off the hide. He used his hand to get the rest off. When all was said and done he walked back inside, sitting the hide on the dresser. He propped the door open with his foot as he pushed the table back outside in the cold. He walked over to his dresser grabbing his leatherworking belt then strapped it around his waist. With hide in hand, he was soon back outside. He grabbed the barrel then sat the hide flat out on the table. He walked inside, grabbed the fabric then walked back outside to hang it up like usual creating the same awning to block out the cool wind. Then he began to work on the hide. He pulled the wood chips out that he had etched the sketch of the quiver on then placed them together like a puzzle. The sketch was very off since he had no experience with carving or etching but he could get the right idea and was a bit desperate. Especially after examining it. The quiver would be smaller than the one he had examined and could only hold about 5 arrows as the one he examined could hold all twenty. But it would be sufficient enough until he got payed. He removed the cutting knife from his belt then began cutting the appropriate size and shape. When that was done he figured he would use the extra for a small loop to put on his belt. To keep the hide from decomposing he would need to tan it immediately so that it was he did. Opening the door with one hand, cut piece and strip of hide in the other, he walked in briefly then sat the piece and strip on the floor then got on his knees and began to stretch the large piece with his hands which increased it's size miraculously. He did the same with the strip but not as fiercely then placed them side by side in front of the hearth with a huff "Wanna help me with this table, Ren?" The bird looked at him then flew over to her leather nest. "Guess not." As Arcadius opened the door, the cool air greeted him once more. He propped the door open with his foot once more then pulled the table inside back to it's original spot. He walked back outside then took down the fabric with a sigh. When everything was said and done he sat inside on his bed waiting for the hide to dry out.